Phi-Fic Chapter 74 Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace 1
Chapter 74 Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace 1
On the 23rd day of the eighth month of the thirteenth year of the Yongzheng Emperor's reign, the Yongzheng Emperor died at the Yuanmingyuan Garden. His fourth son, Prince Bao of the First Rank, Hongli, ascended the throne as the Qianlong Emperor.
When the transmigrator opened his eyes again and sorted out the original owner's memories, he almost burst out laughing in the mourning hall filled with weeping.
His name in this life is Aisin-Gioro Hongli, and his current identity is the Emperor!
The Emperor!
He always thought that being the prime minister of a country was the highest he could achieve, but he never expected things to turn out this way!
Hahahahahaha!
Moreover, the original owner is only twenty-five years old now, in the prime of life, strong and healthy, and living to seventy or eighty years old is no problem.
The country he inherited was free from interference by maternal relatives and the monopoly of power by eunuchs. Thanks to the diligent governance of the previous two emperors, the government was clean and efficient, and the country was thriving.
This is an absolutely perfect start!
Hongli tried hard to show sadness, but inwardly he was overjoyed. After a while, his handsome face twisted into a ferocious expression.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Perhaps we should summon a physician to take a look?" Seeing his master's pale face, Wang Qin's heart leaped into his throat, and he quickly stepped forward to support the emperor.
Good heavens! He called me the Emperor!
Hongli quickly covered his mouth, concealing the corners of his mouth that were turned up, afraid that someone would notice, and said in a trembling voice, "No need! I am truly grieved by the passing of Father Emperor."
Upon hearing him say this, the surrounding imperial relatives and ministers assumed that the emperor was grieving the loss of his father and all offered words of comfort: "Your Majesty, please take care of your health!"
Hongli nodded, suppressing his 'grievances,' and, with Wang Qin's help, went to a side hall to rest.
"All of you, leave! I need some peace and quiet!"
"Yes!"
The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs quickly followed the instructions and left the hall.
After everyone had left, Hongli couldn't help but chuckle softly.
In the last world, his final achievement was only prime minister, but unexpectedly, in this life he turned his life around and became emperor.
Is this a reward for his hard work and diligence in his previous life?
This makes you fall in love with time travel instantly!
If possible, please let him be an emperor in every lifetime!
He's the kind of person who's not afraid of hardship, difficulty, fatigue, or the cold, lonely desolation of a mountaintop!
After the initial excitement subsided, Hongli finally calmed down and began to ponder what he should do next.
Becoming an emperor? This is the first time ever!
Hahaha!
The original owner had already issued a series of imperial edicts regarding the national mourning period in accordance with ancestral rules, such as men removing their hats and tassels, women removing their jewelry, wearing mourning clothes for twenty-seven days, and prohibiting marriage and entertainment for one hundred days, as well as prohibiting shaving one's head for one hundred days, and so on.
For now, all he needs to do is follow the established rules and focus on presiding over the late emperor's funeral.
Although the funeral rites were complicated, they were actually quite simple, since everything just needed to be done according to the ancestral customs and procedures. However, problems still arose along the way.
"Now that His Majesty has ascended the throne, Empress Jingren should be honored as Empress Dowager, and Consort Xi, His Majesty's birth mother, should also be honored as Holy Mother Empress Dowager. This has been the rule of our ancestors throughout the ages, and the two empresses should stand side by side." Zhang Tingyu knelt on the ground and respectfully reported.
When Qing Dynasty officials went to court to pay homage to the emperor, they would kneel to demonstrate the emperor's nobility and supreme status.
Hongli had initially thought that Zhang Tingyu was too old and wondered if he should be given a seat.
Before he could even speak, Zhang Tingyu's gaze turned cold as he threw the memorial in his hand onto the table.
Ulanara was the late emperor's empress and his legal mother. According to ancestral rules, she should be honored as the Empress Dowager.
However, Ulanara harmed imperial heirs, murdered concubines, plotted against Empress Chun Yuan, and schemed for the throne in the late emperor's harem. She even openly sent the original owner a bowl of mung bean soup laced with poison. Fortunately, the original owner did not eat it, otherwise she would have died long ago and would not be where she is today.
Ulanara's various misdeeds were outrageous, which enraged the late emperor. He confined her to Jingren Palace, vowing never to see her again, and effectively deposed her as empress.
Although this matter was not widely publicized, everyone in the imperial court and harem who paid even a little attention knew about it.
Now that Zhang Tingyu has brought up this matter, it is not merely to speak for Ulanara, but to test the new emperor's temperament, character, methods, and attitude towards handling affairs, in order to see how to treat the new emperor in the future.
These seasoned officials, who have served in the court for many years, are all incredibly cunning and shrewd; they can dig eight traps for you with just a few words.
If this is interpreted as a way to elevate the Empress Dowager's status, it would only make people laugh.
“This is not appropriate!” Hongli refused directly and decisively.
Since Zhang Tingyu dared to show his claws, he naturally had to retaliate.
This matter concerns his future say, and he cannot concede an inch.
Zhang Tingyu's brow twitched violently. He knew the emperor fairly well; he was hesitant and indecisive. He had mentioned the Consort Jingren Palace, partly due to ancestral rules and etiquette, but also because he wanted to see if the emperor would act the same way after his ascension to the throne during their first audience. Who knew the emperor would reject his suggestion so easily?
Respecting legitimate and illegitimate children, and distinguishing between superior and inferior, is a natural principle.
Why did the Emperor refuse so readily? Was it because he was dissatisfied with Consort Jingren becoming Empress Dowager, or because he harbored resentment towards Zhang Tingyu?
Zhang Tingyu's heart skipped a beat. He lowered his head and gave a look to the person behind him.
Immediately, someone stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, after the funeral rites are completed, the six palaces in the east and west should be occupied by Your Majesty's concubines. It is naturally not appropriate for the late Emperor's Empress to reside there. We request Your Majesty to honor the Empress of Jingren Palace as Empress Dowager and move her to Cining Palace."
This is the beginning of a forceful declaration!
In the Qing Dynasty, where imperial power was highly centralized, it's astonishing that someone could speak so boldly!
Hongli suddenly laughed, and then, to everyone's surprise, he slammed his fist on the table and stood up, angrily shouting, "Are you all without a ruler or father? How dare you threaten the Son of Heaven!"
These words were too harsh. The ministers, led by Zhang Tingyu, hurriedly bowed and kowtowed, pleading their guilty.
"Emperor calm down!"
Zhang Tingyu lowered his head even further, but he continued to argue:
"Your Majesty, the late Emperor once declared that he would never see Consort Jingren again, whether in life or death. Therefore, Consort Jingren may not appear during the Emperor's funeral. However, the late Emperor did not depose the Empress. Once the funeral is over, we must restore her status, distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate children, and clarify the hierarchy in order to govern the country."
Upon hearing this, Hongli laughed in fury, glancing around at everyone with a gaze as sharp as a sword, radiating a chilling aura.
“Zhang Tingyu! Since you know that Father Emperor once said that he and Consort Jingren would never see each other again, how come you don’t remember the second half of the sentence: the Empress can only be the Empress for life.”
Zhang Tingyu's expression froze for a moment, and he was about to speak when he heard the Emperor's cold words: "You all know about this matter. Now that Father Emperor has just passed away, you are already eager to use this matter to coerce the Emperor. Do you want me to disobey the late Emperor's last wishes and become an unfilial and unjust villain?"
"We dare not!"
"Dare not? What do you dare not do?" Hongli sneered twice and said bluntly, "My mind is made up on this matter, there is no need for further discussion!"